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52 Phonebox Magazine | July 2025OLNEY UKRAINEAID NEWSSeventeen 4x4 utility cars packed with supplies and equipment delivered to the people of Ukraine. That was the dream of a generous group of local farmers and their friends and family. They had done it before, and they were doing it again. Earlier this year the ambitious project paid off yet again, as the convoy of charity and goodwill pulled into Lviv in western Ukraine.Here%u2019s the story from Nigel Wellings of Farmers4Ukraine, in Yardley Hastings:On the afternoon of Monday 14th April all 17 of our four wheel drive vehicles arrived in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, together with our crew of 36 drivers from our local area. After 1500 hard miles of driving across Europe to reach our destination we were tired but jubilant to have got all the vehicles there in one piece. This was the culmination of six months of hard work for a group of local farmers and friends aided by the organisation Driving Ukraine.org. Each vehicle was loaded up with donations such as generators and medical aid that the Ukrainians are desperate for. After a reception at the Mayor%u2019s offi ces in Lviv a number of the vehicles were taken off , on their way to the front lines in Eastern Ukraine where they are used by teams of medics involved in saving the lives of wounded soldiers.Farmers4Ukraine: Yardley Hastings ConvoyThe gratitude we received from so many people in Ukraine was truly humbling. It was made clear to us, time and time again, by diff erent people that these vehicles save lives. Our group of local Farmers4Ukraine has now done fi ve trips over the last three years and delivered more than 40 vehicles. This brings the total number of vehicles delivered through charities to over 200.We cannot thank local people enough for what they have donated in terms of money and aid. All donations have been used 100% for the benefi t of Ukraine as we personally fund all our expenses such as fuel, food and accommodation for the trip. The welcome we received from everybody in Ukraine means we realise how important it is that we carry on doing this work. We will therefore be organising another convoy later this year and once again will be looking for donations of four wheel drive vehicles and money towards them. A huge thank you must be said once again to all those that have contributed.More details: www.drivingukraine.org.